BG Report: Kumano, Japan and Demon’s Castle
Today was a physically exhausting day in Kumano, Japan – lots of walking over many hours, including lots of ups and downs over rocks. So I had my work cut… [keep reading]
BG report from the JR Nanki train
My ride on JR Central’s Nanki limited express train began on a Monday morning in Nagoya, Japan. I’d slept pretty well in the Meitetsu Inn near the station, and BG… [keep reading]
Abandoned train line: Befu Railway’s Noguchi Line
A walk along an abandoned train line brought my BGs down to perfect – and then some. [keep reading]
BG Report: Japanese-Indian “bad eyesight” gods at Tsubosaka Temple
In central Nara Prefecture, Japan, there’s an out-of-the-way temple on a lonely mountaintop called Tsubosaka. I went there one day, via an infrequent bus up a short winding road. The… [keep reading]
BG Report: Four ferris wheels in Osaka (plus hot sake)
I rode four ferris wheels in one day around Osaka, Japan. Each ferris wheel had unique qualities about it, and the final one, which I rode after dark, was the… [keep reading]
BG Report: Amtrak Texas Eagle 2/2: San Antonio to Los Angeles
In Part 1 of my huge adventure on the Amtrak Texas Eagle, I rode from Chicago nearly to San Antonio, TX overnight. My BGs onboard had all been less than… [keep reading]
BG Report: Amtrak Texas Eagle 1/2: Chicago to San Antonio
Amtrak’s Texas Eagle is America’s longest passenger train, and the second longest in all of the Americas. I rode it the entire length, Chicago to Texas to Los Angeles, a… [keep reading]
BG Report: Amtrak Southwest Chief in coach for two days
I rode the entire route of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, from Los Angeles to Chicago. The trip lasts two nights and about 43 hours, and I rode in a coach seat… [keep reading]
BG Report: Kintetsu Urban Liner train to Osaka
The Kintetsu Railway company has a limited express train called Urban Liner. It runs between the cities of Nagoya and Osaka in central Japan. I rode it one day through… [keep reading]
BG Report: JR Shirasagi train to Nagoya
The JR Shirasagi is a limited express train that runs between the Japanese cities of Nagoya and Kanazawa. It goes by Lake Biwa and through the mountains of southern Gifu… [keep reading]
BG Report: Visiting Kanazawa Phonograph Museum
In the Japanese city of Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, there is a big brick building that houses the Kanazawa Phonograph Museum. It’s on three floors and features dozens of very… [keep reading]
BG Report: Dinostar train of Fukui, Japan
In summer 2023 I rode a train from the city of Fukui to the city of Kanazawa, Japan. The train was called Dinostar – one of JR’s shortest limited express… [keep reading]
BG Report: JR Thunderbird train to Kanazawa
I rode the Thunderbird, a limited express train from Japan Rail (JR) that runs between Osaka and Kanazawa. The train leaves several times a day in each direction, goes through… [keep reading]
BG Report: Keihan cable car up “Man Mountain”
Today was a good example of what exercise (and time) do to a high blood sugar. I rode a cable car up a mountain in southern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, and… [keep reading]
BG Report: Hinotori luxury train to Osaka
The Hinotori train is a limited express train between the cities of Nagoya and Osaka in Japan. I rode Kintetsu’s Hinotori train one morning to Osaka to check out its… [keep reading]
BG Report: Capsule hotel room in Nagoya
I finally had one of Japan’s quintessential experiences: I stayed overnight in a “sleep pod” in a capsule hotel. It was the Nine Hours Hotel in Nagoya. The hotel’s name… [keep reading]